Tag: Racing

Peter Brant's Regal Glory surged by longtime leader Navratilova at the three-sixteenths pole and then held off stablemate Shantisara by one length to win the $500,000 Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1) Saturday at Keeneland.

On a day that featured three stakes, Keeneland realized record Pick 4 and Pick 5 wagering. The Pick 4 handled a record $1,357,298, eclipsing the previous mark of $1,065,002 set on Toyota Blue Grass Day in 2018. The Pick 5 handled a record $1,539,098 to surpass the $1,485,090 established on Toyota Blue Grass Day in 2021.

In addition, all-sources wagering for today's 11-race card totaled $27,304,001 to be the second-highest single-day handle in Keeneland history. The record single-day handle of $28,137,728 was set during last Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass Day.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Regal Glory completed the 1 1/16 miles of the Jenny Wiley on a turf course labeled as good in 1:40.97. The victory is the fifth in the race for Brown, who previously won with Ball Dancing in 2015, Sistercharlie in 2018, and Rushing Fall in 2019 and 2020.

Navratilova was first out of the gate with Regal Glory and Shantisara chasing right behind her while Lady Speightspeare trailed the field after lunging at the start and spotting the field several lengths.

The top three remained unchanged through fractions of :24.41, :48.14 and 1:11.85. Navratilova maintained the lead to the top of the stretch but Regal Glory quickly got her measure and opened up with more than enough left to hold off Shantisara.

Lady Speightspeare rallying to finish another 6¾ lengths back in third.

A 2021 Keeneland January sales graduate at $925,000, Regal Glory is a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Animal Kingdom out of the More Than Ready mare Mary's Follies.

The Jenny Wiley marked the second Grade 1 victory and 10th stakes victory overall for Regal Glory, who improved her record to 18-11-4-0 and increased her earnings to $1,836,009 with Saturday's $306,125 check.

Regal Glory returned $4.

Scarabea finished another neck back in fourth and was followed in order by Navratilova and Waliyak.

The post Regal Glory Leads Jenny Wiley 1-2 Finish For Trainer Brown appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Post positions will be drawn Monday for three April 23 stakes –the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles, and the $150,000 Oaklawn for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.

The Oaklawn racing department listed four probables Saturday morning for the Apple Blossom: champion and 2020 winner Ce Ce for trainer Michael McCarthy, millionaire Grade 1 winner Clairiere (Steve Asmussen), champion and 2021 winner Letruksa (Fausto Gutierrez), and multiple stakes winner She's All Wolfe (Donnie K. Von Hemel).

Grade 1 winner and Oaklawn-based Maracuja worked a half-mile in :48.40 Friday morning for trainer Rob Atras for a possible start in the Apple Blossom.

“Still under consideration, but not definite,” Atras said in a text message Saturday morning.

The Oaklawn racing department listed eight probables Saturday morning for the Oaklawn Handicap – Beau Luminarie for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, Caddo River (Brad Cox), Idol (Richard Baltas), Last Samurai (Dallas Stewart), Plainsman (Cox), Rated R Superstar (Federico Villafranco), Super Stock (Asmussen) and Thomas Shelby (Robertino Diodoro). Proxy (Michael Stidham) also was under consideration.

Millionaire multiple Grade 3 winner Rated R Superstar completed major preparations for the Oaklawn Handicap by working 5 furlongs in 1:01.20 Friday morning under eight-time Oaklawn riding champion Ricardo Santana Jr. David Cabrera, Oaklawn's leading rider this season, guided Rated R Superstar to victories in the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes Jan. 15 and $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) March 19, but the jockey is out indefinitely after sustaining head, neck and upper back injuries in an April 8 spill. Santana will ride Rated R Superstar in the Oaklawn Handicap, the 9-year-old gelding's owner, Danny Caldwell, said in a text message Friday morning.

“That is the plan once David went down,” Caldwell said. “Would love to have David and wish him a speedy recovery. Ricardo has won on Rated R and is a very competent rider, plus he should fit Rated R's running style perfect.”

The Oaklawn racing department listed six probables Saturday morning for the Oaklawn Stakes – Home Brew (Cox), Kuchar (Brisset), Long Crow (Asmussen), Ruggs (Ron Moquett), Stellar Tap (Steve Asmussen) and The Skipper Too (John Ortiz).

The winner of the Oaklawn Stakes, if Triple Crown eligible, will receive automatic entry into the Preakness Stakes (G1).

The post Champs Ce Ce, Letruska Expected For Showdown At Oaklawn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Winngate Stables' unbeaten Kathleen O., who is atop the points leaderboard for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 6 at Churchill Downs, worked four furlongs in :48.60 Saturday morning at Keeneland for trainer Shug McGaughey.

According to Keeneland clockers, the Upstart filly galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 and six furlongs in 1:15.80 after clocking splits of :12.80, :25.60, and :37.40 under exercise rider David Jego. (Click here for a video of the workout.)

“I was hoping to see just what I saw,” McGaughey said. “She does not need a whole lot (of training). She is coming off a race two weeks ago. (The time and the gallop out) were just what I was looking for. So far we are right on track.”

Kathleen O. opened her career last November with a victory at Aqueduct. She has won three stakes this year at Gulfstream Park: the one-mile Cash Run by 8½ lengths on New Year's Day, the one-mile Davona Dale (G2) on March 5, and the 1 1/16-mile Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) on April 2.

“She has been a pleasant surprise,” McGaughey said. “She continues to amaze. She gets better and better. I waited (to give her the first race) because she is a big, tall filly. We finally ran her and then ran her back in a stakes, which is really not my style. I have been amazed at her progression. She does what she does easy.”

Kathleen O. is scheduled to have one more timed work at Keeneland and then ship to Churchill for her final work before the Oaks.

“We brought her to Keeneland because horses thrive here in the spring,” McGaughey said. “I don't think adapting to a new track (at Churchill) will be a problem.”

Kathleen O., who sold as a weanling at Keeneland's 2019 November Breeding Stock Sale, is the first horse owned by octogenarian Patrick Kearney, a golfing acquaintance of McGaughey who campaigns as Winngate Stables. McGaughey said Kearney has received offers to buy the filly, but at this point she is not for sale.

“He is enjoying the attention he is getting,” McGaughey said. “He is in it to enjoy racing. He is in it to have a good time.”

In addition to Kathleen O., two other fillies with designs on a start in the Kentucky Oaks put in half-mile works Saturday morning.

Tsunebumi and Sekie Yoshihara's Yuugiri, winner of the Fantasy (G3) in her most recent start, covered the distance in :50 with trainer Rodolphe Brisset aboard. (Click here for a video of the work.)

Don't Tell My Wife Stables and trainer Keith Desormeaux's Bourbonette Oaks winner, Candy Raid, was clocked in :50.40.

Yuugiri has accumulated 114 points toward the Kentucky Oaks and is fourth on the leaderboard. Saturday's work was her first since returning to Keeneland from Oaklawn Park, where she spent the winter.

“You could see it a lot of times when horses would come here from Florida with the change in the air, the change in the weather that they would just blossom, and you can see it,” Brisset said. “She is doing that, and I am very pleased with her.”

Yuugiri made her first three starts last year at Churchill Downs, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the Golden Rod (G2).

“Right now, I am leaning to staying here for her next two works (before the Oaks),” Brisset said. “She has raced at Churchill, and we know she likes the track.”

Desormeaux indicated that Candy Raid would work again here next week and ship to Churchill on April 28 and have her final work for the Oaks beneath the Twin Spires.

Candy Raid has 51 points toward the Oaks, good for 13th place and a spot in the starting gate for the race, which is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box May 2.

The post Unbeaten Kathleen O. Pleases McGaughey In KY Oaks Drill At Keeneland appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post